An Indian Springs Road home was reduced to rubble Monday morning by a blaze that killed a young female, whose body was found in the remains of a bedroom. (Photo by Pete Sibka)

An early morning fire killed a young female and destroyed a home in Penn Valley on Monday.

The New Year's Day fire burned through a home at about 2 a.m., said Nevada County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Smith.

Sheriff's deputies were called to investigate when firefighters found a body in the burned rubble at 16041 Indian Springs Road, Smith said. The home was owned by Sharon Rose, he said.

Penn Valley firefighters fought the fire at the two-story home until after 4 a.m., a dispatch report said.

The rubble was still hot Monday afternoon, so the scene could not be searched until it cooled down, Smith said.

The victim's name and age will not be available until after an autopsy and dental exam are performed on the body, Smith said. The body was found in what had been a bedroom of the 1,900-square-foot house, he said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the state Fire Marshall's office, Smith said.

A passing motorist saw the fire and called 911 at 1:40 a.m., said Penn Valley Fire Protection District Fire Chief Rob Paulus. When firefighters arrived, the home was engulfed by flames, he said.

The fire also demolished a 1994 Mustang parked in the carport under the house, Paulus said.

Sheriff's Deputies found a cat in the ruins and buried it, Smith said.

Rough and Ready Volunteer and Grass Valley City fire departments and Nevada County Consolidated Fire Protection District also responded to the fire.

Follow-up Article: ID Pending For Female in PV Home FIre
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